About Projection

Projection is an unconscious process through which we attribute feelings or characteristics we have but are unaware of to someone else.

For instance, if we are in an argument we may unconsciously be angry and instead of acknowledging that feeling, we will project and accuse the other person of being angry.  Psychological growth is a process of recognizing our projections, withdrawing them, engaging with them, and integrating them.

Frequently our unconscious male and female aspects land on our romantic partners.  We try to see them as we unconsciously want them to be.

From a depth psychological therapeutic perspective (mine) what someone unconsciously wants is very valuable because there is a rich emotional landscape to explore between where someone wants to be and where they are.